What to do if…
you receive a jury summons with the wrong name or address details

What to do now

1. Work out which part of the UK the paperwork is for.

   • England and Wales: the paperwork will usually refer to HM Courts and Tribunals Service, the Jury Central Summoning Bureau, or the GOV.UK reply service.
   • Scotland: the paperwork is usually a jury citation from the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service, with the court that cited you named in the citation pack.
   • Northern Ireland: the paperwork may be a jury notice before any later summons, with a Form of Return process through Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service.

2. If the summons or notice is for you but your name or address is wrong, reply through the official route and correct it.

   • England and Wales: reply online or by post as instructed. The online service asks for the name and address exactly as printed on the letter first, and then allows mistakes to be corrected when you reply.
   • Scotland: follow the citation pack. If the details do not match you, contact the court that cited you using the details in the pack or the official court contact route.
   • Northern Ireland: complete the Form of Return online or by post as instructed. If your address has changed, attach a short letter telling the Juries Officer your new address.

3. If it is not for you, treat it as misdelivered official mail.

   • If the envelope is unopened, mark it “Not known at this address” and return it through the post.
   • If you already opened it by mistake, do not fill it in. Use the official contact details on the letter or the relevant official court website to say that the named person does not live at your address.
   • Give only enough information to explain the mistake, such as “This person does not live at this address.”

4. If you received it late because it went to an old or wrong address, say that clearly. Include a simple sentence such as: “I only received this on [date] because it was sent to [old or wrong address]. Please update your records.” Keep a copy or note of what you sent.

5. Act promptly, especially if a deadline is shown.

   • In England and Wales, you must reply within 7 days of getting the jury summons.
   • In Northern Ireland, the jury notice Form of Return must be completed, signed, and returned within 14 days of getting the jury notice.
   • In Scotland, follow the deadline or instructions in the citation pack, and contact the cited court if you are unsure.

6. Use only official contact routes. Type the official website address yourself, use the contact details printed on the paperwork, or use the official court contact route. If someone pressures you to pay by bank transfer, gift card, cryptocurrency, or any urgent payment method, end the contact and check through the official route.